Cotton-seed separator



(No Model.) Y

J. A. GARRETT. COTTON SEED SBPARATOR.

No. 606,533. Patented June z8, 1898.

fa Il' Hdigesses UNITED STATES 'PATENT- Qrricno JAMES ANDIs GARRETT, or TROY, TE'XAs.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersiPatent No.l 606,533, dated June 28, 1898.

Application filed November '7 T0 @ZZ whom) it 1v1/ay concern:

Be it knownthat I, JAMES ANDIs GARRETT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Troy, in the county of Bell and State of TeXas, have invented a new and useful Cotton-Seed Separator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton-seed separators; and it has for its object to provide a new and useful machine of this character having simple and eflicient means for separating different sizes of cotton-seed to' render the same more suitable for planting purposes.

' To this end the invention, therefore, primarily contemplates a machine capable of assorting or separating different sizes of seed, so that the diiferent portions of seed delivered from the machine will be of the same size and grade, thereby obviatin g the slow and tedious process of separating or. asserting different sizes of cotton-seed by hand.

With these and other objects in view,which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction,l combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more full i described, illustrated',and claimed. y

-In the drawings,.Figure 1 is a perspective l view of a cotton-seed separator constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail inv perspective of the conical conveyer-drum.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates a separator casing or boX having an open bottom 2 and preferably supported on the legs 3. The said openbottom separator-box 1 is provided in its diametrically opposite ends with the cylindervopenings 4, concentrically arranged and of different sizes, so as to respectively receive therein the opposite ends of a horizontally- `disposed perforate sepa rating-cylinder 5. The

separating-cylinder 5 is removably fitted at its opposite ends'in the opposite openings 4 in order that it may be readily removed and replaced by the larger of said openings 4, and the saidA cylinder 5 is of a conicalor tapering shape, the small contracted 'end thereofforming the discharge or delivery end, through which the larger sizes of seed are delivered during the operation of the machine. The perforate conical stationary separating-cylin- 1896. Seriana. einser.' cromati.)

Y `der 5 is covered at itslarge open end by a cappiece 6, detachably fastened toone end of the casing 1 bymeans of screws 7er other suit-` able fasteners,and said cap-piece 6 has formed therein a bearing-opening 8, disposed in horizontal alinement with a bearing-opening 9, formed in a bearing-bar 10, secured to one end ofthe casing 1 and extending across the small open end of the cylinder 5.

The alined bearing-openings 8 and 9 are adapted to; receive therein the spindle eX- tremities of a rotary conical conveyer-drum .11, arranged to rotate within the cylinder 5 and of a size nearly equaling that of the cylinder. The conical conveyer-drum is provided with a peripheral series of regularlyspaced agitator ngers or spikes 12, arranged on a spiral line from end to end of the drum and adapted to work in close proximity to the inner periphery o f the cylinder 5, so as to agitate the seed and cause the smaller sizes thereof to vbe forced through the openings or slots in the cylinder,- while at'the same time serving to positively force the larger sizes of seed toward and out through vthe small end of the cylinder. l

It is to be observed that the perforate separating-cylinder 5 lies within the casing 1 out of contact with the top and sides thereof, so that separations of the seed canoccur at any point throughout the periphery of the cylinder and fall through the `open bottom of the casingjand it is irnportantin this connection that' thedrum 1l is provided with a solid body to form a narrow space between the surface thereof and the inner surface of the perforate cylinder, in which the cotton-seed is confined and worked against the cylinder by the agitator fingers or spikes'12. The rotary conveyer-drum has fitted to the large end thereof an operating-crank 13, hav- I ing a handle 14 and pivotally connected with the lower end of a link 15, the upper end of which linkconnects with a crank-arm 16 at the outer end of a stirrer-shaft 17, mounted transversely within a feed-hopper 18. The

feed-hopper 18 is mounted on top of the casing 1, over the top feed-opening 19, communicating with the interior of the drum 5.at the large or flared end thereof, and fitted within the'bottom of the hopper 18, over the feed-opening 19, is a slotted plate 20, in which IOO works a plurality of stirrer-in gers 2l, carried by the shaft 17 and serving to stir up the seed within the hopper to prevent clogging and to force the same through the feed-opening l0 into the cylinder 5, as will be readily understood.

The cylinder 5 is designed to be interchangeable with duplicate cylinders having` openings or slots of different sizes, whereby the machine can be used in connection with different grades of cotton-seed, it being obvious that by removing' the cap-piece (i and the cylinder 5 within the casing a cylinder with the proper-sized openings or slots may be readily inserted in place. In the operation of the machine the large sizes of seeds, which will not pass through the opening or slots of the screen-cylinder, are conveyed toward the contracted end of such cylinder and discharged therethrough, while the smaller sizes of seed and other separations are worked through the cylinder and fall through the open bottom 2 of the cylinder.

In order to insure the proper separation of the different sizes of seed, it is necessary that the cylinder 5 be perforated with slots that are disposed annnlarly thereof in circular rows instead ot lying longitudinallyorlengthwise of the cylinder, which latter disposition of the slots 2 would not permit of the smaller sizes et the seed being` worked through the cylinder as the seed is conveyed through the narrow space between the peripheryof the drum and the cylinder. It will be further observed that the transverse or annularlydisposed slots of the separating-cylinder 5 present an abrading and sifting surface which insures a scouring or cleaning action as well as a separating action for the seed, it being understood that the thorough scouring or cleaning of the seed is very desirable to provide for placing the seed in the best possible condition for planting. In connection with the proper disposition of theslots or perforations in the cylinder it is important to note that said cylinder, which is arranged in a horizontal position, contines between itself and the conical drum a comparatively narrow uniform working space from feed to discharge, whereby the area of said working space is gradually contracted from vfeed to discharge and the mutual pressure and attrition of the material under treatment is maintained.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrifici ng any of the advantages of this in- Vention.

IIaVing thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by .Iletters Patent, is-

l. In a cotton-seed separator, the combination of the horizontal conical drum armed with spiral rows of fingers or spikes, the horizontal conical cylinder formed with transverse perforations presenting an abrad ingand sifting surface, and a uniform working space between itself and the cylinder from feed to discharge, whereby the area of said working space is gradually contracted from feed to discharge and the mutual pressure and attrition of the material under treatment is maintained, and a feeder placed at the larger end of the separating-cylinder, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cotton-seed separator, the combination of an open bottom casing, a stationary horizontal conical separating-cylinder arranged within the casing out of contact with the top and sides thereof and formed with transverse perforations presenting an abrading and sifting surface, a horizontal conical drum arranged within the cylinder-and armed with spiral rows of fingers or spikes, said drum forming between its periphery and the perforate cylinder a uniform working space extending from feed to discharge whereby the area of said werking space is gradually contracted from feed to discharge and the mutual pressure and attrition of the material under treatment is maintained, and a feeder placed at the larger end of the cylinder, subtially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signatn rc in the presence ot' two witnesses.

L. F. TAYLOR, l. S. Manutan'. 

